SzSA YearBook 2016/17

SZENT-GYÖRGYI MENTORS
LÁSZLÓ PUSKÁS
Laboratory for Functional Genomics,
Institute of Genetics,
Biological Research Center of the
Hungarian Academy of Sciences
Address: Temesvári krt. 62., H-6726 Szeged, Hungary
E: puskas.szbk@gmail.com
T: +36 62/599-782
RESEARCH AREA
During the second half of the twentieth century investigation
of the function and the regulation of a specific gene
was based on individual analysis. Based on the detailed or
partial sequence information of diverse organisms novel
technologies has been emerged to systematically analyze
gene function. Our group applies different functional genomics
methods to answer to those questions that enables
us better understanding of the behaviour of different organisms
and dieases at the molecular level. In our laboratory
there are unique, high-throughput instruments that are capable
of genomic (mRNA and miRNA) analysis of different
biological samples (bacteria, plants, animal tissues, human
clinical samples) in a global (analyzing the entire genome)
or in a focused way (e.g. part of a biochemical pathway).
Dinamic changes at the gene level characterize the adaptation
and response to environmental stimuli of a given organism;
define its development, aging, determines the type,
development, progression and drug resistance of a disease.
We have developed a special, single cell functional genomic
approach that is capable of analyzing individual cells.
Molecular scanning of individual cells can be applied in
neuroscience, as well as clinical studies to characterize diseased
or drug treated cells in an unprecedent resolution.
Among these technologies digital PCR is one of the most
recent methods developed. We intend to use this approach
to detect rare mutations in cancer cells and to identify novel
targets and mechanisms in central nervous system diseases.
SELECTED PUBLICATIONS
Faragó, N., Kocsis, Á.K., Lovas, S., Molnár, G., Boldog, E.,
Rózsa, M., Szemenyei, V., Vámos, E., Nagy, L.I., Tamás, G.,
Puskás, L.G. (2013) Digital PCR to determine the number
of transcripts from single neurons after patch-clamp recording.
Biotechniques 54: 327-36.
Kitajka, K., Sinclair, A.J., Weisinger, R.S., Weisinger, H.S., Mathai,
M., Jayasooriya, A.P., Halver, J.E., Puskás, L.G. (2004)
Effects of dietary omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on
brain gene expression. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 101: 10931-
6.
Puskás, L.G., Kitajka, K., Nyakas, C., Barcelo-Coblijn, G.,
Farkas, T. (2003) Short-term administration of omega 3
fatty acids from fish oil results in increased transthyretin
transcription in old rat hippocampus. Proc Natl Acad Sci
USA 100: 1580-5.
Kitajka, K., Puskás, L.G., Zvara, A., Hackler, L. Jr., Barceló-Coblijn,
G., Yeo, Y.K., Farkas, T. (2002) The role of n-3 polyunsaturated
fatty acids in brain: modulation of rat brain gene
expression by dietary n-3 fatty acids. Proc Natl Acad Sci
USA 99: 2619-24.
Onody, A., Zvara, A., Hackler, L. Jr., Vígh, L., Ferdinandy, P.,
Puskás, L.G. (2003) Effect of classic preconditioning on the
gene expression pattern of rat hearts: a DNA microarray
study. FEBS Lett 536: 35-40.
TECHNIQUES AVAILABLE IN THE LAB
DNA microarray technology to assess global gene activity
profiles; focused, real-time PCR experiments to detect changes
in quantity and composition of DNA, RNA and miRNA;
digital PCR methods; purification and analysis of nucleic
acids and proteins.
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